Engine.



No. 797,631. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. P.A STRATTON.

ENGINE.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. 1,1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905.

E'. STRATTON.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATLOH FILED Nov.1.19o4.

4 SHEETS-SHEBT 3.

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No. 797,631. PATENTED AUG. 22, 1905. F. STRATTON.

ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED NOV.1,1904.

4 SHEBTS-SHEET 4.

FRANKLIN STRATTON, OF BUFFALO, NFW YORK, ASSlG-NOR OF THREE- EIGHTHS TOCHARLES W. PROOTOR, OF BUFFALO, NElV YORK.

ENGIINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1905.

Application filed November l, 1904:. Serial No. 231,000.

To rif/Z7I when?, 'llt' 'nw/y concern:

Be it .known that l, FRANKLIN STRATTON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Bulialo, in the county of Erie and State otx New York, haveinvented a new and useful Improvement in Engines, of which thefollowingis a speciiication.

My invention relates to engines that can be `driven by Vapor, compressedair, or gas.

simple, compact, easily operated and under? stood, easily packed, andreadily reversed.

To these ends I have produced the engine herein illustrated anddescribed, which is a complete reciprocatory engine as well as acomplete rotary engine without, however, having the serious faults ofthe typical rotary engine, inasmuch as in the device herein described avery g'reat degree of eiliciency can be obtained and thevalve-controlling mechanism may be so regulated that there is a widelatitude for taking advantage of the expan sion of the motive powerused.

My engine can be run fast or slow according as the operator desires justas the ordinary reciprocatory engine can be run. Another importantadvantage is that its pistonthrust is always in one direction.

Many more advantages result Yfrom the use ol" the invention, which willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art.

For convenience otl illustration and description l have shown herein myengine as adapted for the use oi' steam; but in so doing 1 do not wishto be understood as limiting it to the exact form illustrated anddescribed, inasmuch as it is equally adaptable for use with air or withany expansible gases or vapors.

Referring to the annexed drawings, consisting oi four sheets, in whichlike characters oi' reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several figures, Figure 1 is a plan view of my invention. Fig. 2 isa side elevation ot the same. Fig. 3 is a section of the same, taken onthe line a; of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a section of the same, taken on theline l1/1/ of Fig. 1. Fig. ,5 is a View, partly in section and partly inelevation, oi' the piston-cylinder valves, taken on the line c Z ofFig. 1. Fig. G is a section taken on the line t I) of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 isa view, partly in section and partly in elevation, ot' one oli' myvalves and valve-chambers- Fig. 8 is a section taken on theline cf oiFig'. 7. Fig. 9 is an elevation'otl the outside shell of my valve. Fig.10 is an end view of the outside shell of my valve lookingirom the leftof Fig. 9. Fig. l1 is an end View of the outside shell of my valvelooking from the right of Fig. 9. Fig. 1Q is a view ol my semicircularvalve-port closer. Fig. 13 isa section of my semicircular valve-portcloser, taken on theline (y 71, of Fig. 12. Fig. 14 is a View of myeccentric valvestem. Fig. 15 is an end view of my eccentric valve-stemlooking from the left of Fig. 14:. Fig. 16 is an end view ot' myeccentric valvestem looking from the right ot Fig. 11i. Fig. 17 is anelevation of the cams and the valvegoverning mechanism, taken on theline e of Fig. 1.

1 represents the standard or base, which may be olI any suitable design,upon which the operating parts of my engine are mounted.

2 is my common stean1-inlet pipe, which is placed in any convenientposition and which has branches 3 and fi, 3 and 4L, and lll.

7 is my common eXhaust-pipe, which has connections 7, 7, and 7c. 8 and 9are my pistoncylinders, and 10 and 11 are the pistonrods, upon which aremounted the two pistonheads, one of which is shown at 12 in Fig. il. Thepiston-heads are rigidly secured to substantially the middle parts oithe piston-rods and move back and liorth in their piston-cylindersrigidly with the said piston-rods.

The piston-rods are rigidly secured to the piston-frame 23 at 21 and 22,as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and Li. The piston-frame 23 is free totravel with the piston-rod 11 back and forth outside o'tl thepistorrcylinder and is guided in its path by the inside rollers 31 andthe outside rollers 32, which are rigidly attached to the outside ofsaid piston-cylinder, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

Rigidly attached to the piston-frame 23 is my cam-ring 2li, which incontour is a combination of ellipses and circles. This cam-ring The.part 5 receives the live steam from the steam-inlet pipe 3b, and thepart 5b receives the exhaust, which then passes through the exhaust-pipeconnections 7 a, 7c, and 7. Each of the two steam-chambers 5 and 6 isprovided with two steam-inlet valves 44 and 45 and two steam-exhaustvalves 46 and 47, as clearly shown in Fig. 5.

33 is the driving-shaft, upon which are rigidly mounted the fly-wheels19 and 20, steamchambers 5 and 6, the piston-cylinders 8 and 9, thesteam-inlet connections 3h and 4b, and the steam-exhaust ports 7a and7". It will thus be seen that the said driving-shaft carries with it allof the operating parts of my mechanism, including` the piston-rods, thepiston-frames, and the cam-rings, thus rotating with the driving-shaft.

The steam-inlet connections 3 and 4u register with the connections 3band 4b and are suitably packed by means ot' the packing 34 and 35, theglands 36 and 37, and the outside shells .48 and 49. The driving-shaftrevolves on roller-bearings 50 and 51, as clearly shown in Fig. 4, andmeans for lubricating these bearings is provided by the oil-cups 38 and39. The steam-chambers and the piston-cylinders are provided with thecylinder-heads 13 and 14, which are suitably secured to the walls of thesaid steam-chambers and pistoncylinders and are packed by means ot' thepacking' 15 and 16 to the glands 52 and 53, as clearly shown at Fig. 4.

54 represents acam loosely mounted-on the driving-shaft 33, whichgoverns the steaminlet valves 44 and 45, and 55 represents the cam, alsoloosely mounted on the said drivingshaft 33, which regulates thesteam-exhaust valves 46 and 47.

Referring now to Fig'. 17, secured to the stems of the valves 44 and 45are arms 56 and 57 upon which are rotatably mounted rollers 58 and 59.These rollers 58 and 59 are adapted to travel on the periphery oi thecam 54, and as they pass around the circular part 54u of the cam 54 theyclose the steam-inlet ports governed by the valves 44 and 45, and asthey pass on the fiat part 54b of the vcam 54 they open the steam-inletports governed by the said valves 44 and 45. Rigidly attached to thevalve-stems of the exhaust-valves 46 and 47 are arms 60 and 61, uponwhich are rotatably mounted rollers 62 and 63. These rollers 62 and 63are adapted to travel on the periphery of the cam 55, and as they passaround the circular part 55 (shown in dotted line) they open theexhaust-ports governed by the exhaust-valves 46 and 47, and as they passaround the enlarged portion 55b of the cam 55 they are adapted to closethe exhaust-ports governed by the valves 46 and 47.

Referring now to Figs. 7 to 16, I will describe the various parts of myvalves. 62 is my valve-stem, upon which, as described in the lastparagraph, is mounted one of the arms 56, 57, 60, or 6l. The valve-stemV62 has a flat portion 62xl and a semicircular portion 62h, and the saidvalve-stem 62 is adapted to rotatably travel in the shell 63. The shell63 is provided with a port 64, and resting loosely upon the valve-stem62 is my semicircular valve-port closer 65, which is provided with lugs65u and 65", that are adapted to fit into the circular portions 64a and64b of the port 64. Thus vwhen the semicircular portion 62b of thevalve-stem 62 is thrown against the portcloser 65 the lugs 65l and 65register with the circular holes 64a and 64b of the port 64 and closethe port against steam-exhaust and steam-inlet, and when the hat portion62a of the valve-stem 62 is opposite the port-closer 65 the port-closereither drops against the said fiat portion 62 of the valve-stem 62 or isforced against it by steam-pressure and allows the live steam to enteror the exhaust to pass through the port 64, and thus throughthe valve-lshell 63 to the exhaust-pipes or through the steam-inlet pipes. Thevalve-stem 62 is provided with a flange 66, which registers closely withthe inside circumference of the shell 63. The shell 63 has an outsideflange 67, in which is provided an opening 68, by means of which theshell may be securely attached to the outside of the steam-chamber.

Leading from the steam-chamber 5 is a port 69, which is adapted toregister with the port 64 of the valve-shell 63. Leading from thepiston-cylinder 8 is a port 71, adapted to register with the port 72 ofthe valve-shell 63.

73 is a segmental gear pivoted in any suitable manner at 74 to thestandard or base 1 and provided on its periphery with the cogs 75.Rigidly attached to the outside of the cam 55 is a segmental gear 76,which is adapted to register with the segmental gear 73. The segmentalgear '76 and the cams 54 and 55 are rigidly secured together, so thatthey rotate as one part.

77 is a lever-arm placed in any convenient position, which is secured at78 to the segmental gear 73 and is locked in position by the dog 79. Thetwo segmental gears 73 are united by means of a bar 80, so that when oneis thrown by the lever 77 they are both thrown and act together. It willbe clearly evident that a throw of the lever 77 will revolve thesegmental gears 73 and put them in mesh with the segmental gears 76, sothat the gears 76 and the cams 54 and 55 will revolve through thequadrant of a circle, and thus reverse the positions of the rollers 58and 59, 62 and 63l upon the cams 54 and 55. The result will be toreverse the action or' the engine.

Having thus described the several parts of my invention, I will describeits method of operation: y

Inasmuch as the action ot' my engine, as herein described, is identicalin operation whether the steam enters the steam-chamber 5 or thesteam-chamber 6, except that the power-strokes of the piston-cylinders,which 'rer/,631 a the said steam-chambers surround, are timed atalternate intervals, I will confine myselfl in this description to theoperation of one of the two pistons. Live steam would be conducted fromthe pipe 2 through its branches 3 and 3n and thence into the revolving'connection 3", where it would be led into the live-steam compartment 5Lof the steam-chamber 5, all of which is clearly shown in Fig'. 4. Thestem 62 of the valve 45 is then thrown so that the flat portion 62thereof is away from the portcloser 65. The steam-pressure acting fromthe part 5 of the steam-chamber 5 through the port 69 of the part 5L andthe port 64 of the shell 63 forces the port-closer 65 away from the port64 and allows the live steam to enter the shell 63 of my valve. At thesame time the port 72 in the said shell 63 is open, and thus the livesteam is conducted through the shell 63 and the ports 72 and 7l into thepiston-cylinder 8 in front of the piston-head. The opening of thevalve-port is caused by the roller 59 passing' upon the flat portion 54hof the cam 54, and live steam will thus enter the piston-cylinder aslong as the roller 59 rests upon the part 54 of the cam 54 and until thesaid roller 59 reaches the circular part 54*L of the said cam 54, whenthe roller 59 is lifted by the said portion 541L high enough to rotatethe stem of the said valve 45, so that the cylindrical portion of thestem of the said valve will come in contact with the port-closer 65 andthrow it firmly against the ports 64 and 72, thus preventing' the livesteam from the part 5 from entering the shell 63 of the 'said valve,cutting ofi' the supply of live steam from the piston-cylinder 8 throughthe ports 72 and 7l. It will be apparent from this description that thelength of time during; which live steam may enter the piston-cylinder isentirely subject to regulation and can be made greater or less,according' as the flat portion 54b of the cam 54 is made greater orless. The longer the roller 59 rests upon the flat portion 54b of thecam 54 the greater will be the amount of time during which live steammay enter the piston-cylinder, and. consequently the less will thepower-stroke be, due solely to the expansion of the steam in thepiston-cylinder. Conversely, the time of theliveopeningof thesteam-inlet may be shortened, and thus a larger amount of thepowerstroke may be due to the expansive power of the steam. By means ofthe regulation, which is made possible by the above construction, l amenabled to obtain from the steam or other vapor or gas which may beintroduced as the motive power a greater or lesser efiiciency accordingas the expansive power of such vapor or gas is utilized:

being thus introduced in front of the head 1,2 of the piston forces thesaid head l2 toward the opposite end of the piston-cylinder, thuscarrying' with it the piston-rod l1 and the piston-frame 23, which, asheretofore described,

4between the rollers 25 and 26.

Live steam' is guided in its path by the inside rollers 3l and theoutside rollers 32. The piston-frame 23, being carried along' with thepiston-head l2 and the piston-rod ll also carries with it the cam-ring'24, as heretofore described, is guided in its path between the rollers25 and 26.

'Fig'. 3 shows the position of the several parts at the beginning' of apower-stroke. 'During the course of a complete rotation 0f the cam-ring'24 there are two power-strokes exerted by the piston which directlycontrolsJ the movement of the cam-ring'. One of the two saidpower-strokes begins at the elliptical portion 31 of the said cam-ring24 and the other thereof begins at the elliptical portion 82 of the saidcam-ring' 24. Itis apparent that the power-stroke always begins when theelliptical portion 82 or the elliptical portion 8l of the said cam-ring'24 is approximately This powerstroke continues until the said cam-ringhas been carried through substantially cue-half of its circumference.rlhe steam-inlet-governing cam 54 and the steam-eXhaust-governing cam 55are relatively so placed so that immediately prior to the roller 59coming in contact with the flat portion 549 of the cam 54 the roller 63comes in contact with the enlarged portion 55b of the cam 55, thusrotating' the valve-stem of the exhaust-valve 46 and causing,- thesemicircular port-closer 65 to close port 64. Each power-stroke of thepiston rotates its cam-ring' 24 through praetically one-half of itscircumference; but inasmuch as there are two cylinders and a pistonacting in each one and there being' two cam-rings 24 power ispractically applied during a complete revolution of a cam-ring fourtimes, so that each power-stroke carries the cam-ring through a quadrantof its circumference. The cam-ring being' formed of a combination ofellipses and circles receives the impetus of the power-strokes of itsown piston at its elliptical ends and the impetus of the power-strokesof the opposite corresponding' piston on the circular parts of itscircumference. 1t will thus be seen that there can be no dead-centersand that the movement of the working' parts are always in perfectbalance, so that little, if any, vibration results from the operation ofthe cooperating parts.

As each power-stroke of the piston drives the piston-frames and thecam-rings 24 in rotation they carry with them all of the working' partsand force the driving-shaft 33 to rotate, which necessarily carries withit in rotation the fly-wheels 19and 20. The piston-cylinders 8 and 9 andtheir corresponding' steam-chambers 5 and 6 are set at right angles toeach other, thus retaining' equilibrium of the working parts andcausing, practically, the continual application of power thereto.

It is apparent that a reversal of the action and that it could be doneaway with and the of the engine may most readily be secured by sameresults be effected as herein described.

throwing the level' 77 so that the segmental gear 73 will mesh with thesegmental g'ear 76 and rotate the inlet-controlling cam 54 and theexhaust-controlling cam 55 in such a position that the action of therollers coming in contact with the two said cams will be the reverse ofthat' herein described.

It will thus be seen from the foregoing description that I am able withthe construction described to provide a longer time for exhaust than hasheretofore been vpossible with any form of reciprocating' or rotaryengine. This is an important advantage resulting from my construction.

It is apparent that the principles of construction which I have hereindescribed can be as advantageously adapted for use when some other vaporthan steam or g'as is used for the motive power thereof, and I thereforedo not wish to limit myself to the exact construction herein illustratedand shown, but desire to broadly cover the principles of construction asadaptable for use with any vapor or gas as a motive power.

It is apparent that my device is capable of being operated with but onecyinder and equally apparent that it is capable of operation with morethan two cylinders; but as a typical illustration of the principleswhich are embodied in the device as described I have shown thetwo-cylinder construction.

Although in the foregoing description I have referred entirely to aconstruction which embodies as one of its elements a cam-shaped ring',still I do not limit myself to that identical construction, since it isclear that the essence of my invention lies in giving or in conyerting astraight reciprocating pistonthrust into a rotary motion by means of asuitable cam' or beveled shaped guiding device. By means of theprinciple which I have endeavored to set forth the conversion abovereferred to might either make the piston-cylinder a rotary cylinder, asherein described, or the cylinder might remain stationary and the directreciprocating thrust of the piston be converted into a rotary motion. Incase the cylinder remains stationary and the cam or beveled shapedguiding device moves in consonance with the direct piston-thrust of thepiston the only change that would be necessary from the constructionwhich I have described in order to produce the rotary motion would be toattach the guiding means to I do not, therefore, limit myself to aconstruction embodying' a complete ring; but rather only desire to limitmyself to the necessary cam or beveled shaped guiding means, which mayconstitute a complete ring or only the cam or beveled shaped section ofsuch ring.

I am aware that various modifications of the idea herein disclosed arepossible, such as those referred to in the last foregoing paragraphs,and various others which might be produced by the use of various formsof piston-cylinders and various means for conducting the motive powerthereto and therefrom.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is# l. In an engine thecombination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of a piston-rod, acamshaped ring secured directly or mediately to said piston-rod androtating with said cylinder, a driving-shaft secured to and rotatingwith said cylinder and cam-shaped ring, and non-rotating guiding meansfor keeping said ring in a given path.

2. In an engine the combination with arotating piston-cylinder, of apiston-rod, a piston-head secured approximately at the middle of saidpiston-rod, a piston-frame attached to said piston-rod, a cam-shapedring secured to said piston-frame and rotatingv with saidpiston-cylinder, a driving-shaft also secured to and rotating with saidcylinder and said ring,and non-rotating guiding means for keeping saidring in a given path.

3. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of apiston-rod, a piston-head secured to said rod, a piston-frame secured tosaid rod, guiding' means for keeping' said piston-frame in a given path,and attached to the outside of said piston-cylinder, a cam-shaped ringattached to said pistonframe and rotating with said cylinder, adriving-shaft secured to and rotating' with said cylinder and saidring', and non-rotating guiding means for keeping said ring in a givenpath.

LI. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of apower-containing chamber, surrounding said cylinder and rotatingtherewith, which is divided into two parts, one of which is adapted forthe inlet of the fresh power and the other to receive the exhaust of thesaid power after the power-stroke, a piston-rod, a cam-shaped ringsecured directly or mediately to said rod and rotating' with saidpiston-cylinder, non-rotating guiding means for keeping said ring in agiven path and means for controlling the inlet and exhaust of the motivepower.

5. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of apower-containing chamber outside of said piston-cylinder and rotating'therewith, a driving-shaft secured to and rotating with the saidcylinder, a pistonframe attached to the piston-rod of said cylinder,anda rotating cam-shaped ring secured to said piston-frame .and rotatingtherewith, rotating g'uiding means attached to said cylinder forkeeping' said piston-frame in a given path, and non-rotating' guiding'means for keeping said ring in a given path.

6. In an engine the combination with a rotating' piston-cylinder, of amotive-power-containing chamber surrounding' said piston-cylinder anddivided into an inlet part and an outlet or exhaust part, means forcontrolling the inlet and exhaust of the motive power into and from saidpiston-cylinder, all ot' which rotate with said piston-cylinder, adriving-shaft secured to the piston-rod of said cylinder and guided in agiven path by guiding' means rotating' with and attached to saidcylinder, a cam-shaped ring secured to said piston-frame and rotatingtherewith,.non-rotating guiding means for keeping' said cam-shaped ringin a given path, and inlet and outlet ports in said driving-shaftrotating' therewith which reg'ister with the stationary inlet and outletpipes, which conduct the motive power therefrom.

7 1n an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, ci' adriving-shaft secured to and rotating with said cylinder, valvegoverningcams loosely mounted ou said driving-shaft, means connected with saidcams tor controlling the inlet and exhaust valves lead` ing into saidpiston-cylinder, a piston-rod, a piston-frame,a cam-shaped ring attachedto said piston-'frame and rotating therewith, and non-rotating guidingmeans for keeping said cam-shaped rings in a given path.

8. In an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, adriving-shaft attached to said cylinder and rotating therewith,valve-controlling' cams loosely mounted on said driving-shaft, inlet andexhaust valves governing the inlet and exhaust of the motive power inthe said cylinder, a piston-rod, a piston-head secured substantially inthe middle of said piston-rod, means tor driving' said piston-head andsaid piston-rod in a direct line, a piston-frame attached to saidpiston-rod, means secured to said piston-cylinder for guiding saidpiston-frame in a given path, a cam-shaped ring attached to saidpiston-trame, and non-rotating guiding means for keeping' said ring in agiven path.

9. ln an engine the combination with a rotating piston-cylinder, of adriving-shaft secured thereto and rotating therewith, a powercontainingchamber surrounding said cylinder, an inlet and an outlet valve `forcontrolling the inlet and exhaust of said motive power at the one endoi' said cylinder, corresponding inlet and outlet valves at the oppositeend of said cylinder, valve-controlling' means loosely mounted on saiddriving-shaft, a piston-rod, a piston-head and a cam-shaliied ringattached directly or mediately to said piston-rod, and non-rotating'guiding means for keeping said ring in a given path.

l0. ln an engine the combination with two or more rotating'pistou-cylinders of two 01' more piston-rods, two or more cam-shapedrings secured directly or mediately to said piston-rods and rotating'with said cylinders, a driving-shaft also secured to and rotating' withsaid cylinders and said rings, and nonrotating' guiding' means forkeeping' said rings ina given path.

l1. In an engine, the combination with two or more rotatingpiston-cylinders ot powercontaining chambers surrounding' saidcylinders, a driving-shaft attached to and rotating with said cylinders,inlet and exhaust valves attached to the ends ot each of said cylinders,means for controlling said inlet and exhaust valves attached to androtating' with said driving-shaft, piston-rods acting' through saidcylinders, a cam-shaped ring attached directly or mediately to saidpiston-heads and rotating' with said cylinders and said shaft, and meansfor reversing the action of said inlet and exhaust valves.

l2. In an engine the combination with two or more rotating'piston-cylinders of a drivingshaft attached to and rotating with said cvlinders, inlet and exhaust ports connecting with said cylinders, inletand exhaust valves for governing the inlet and exhaust of the motivepower, valve-controlling' means loosely mounted on said driving-shaft,means for reversing the action of said valve, piston-frames attached tosaid rods, guiding means attached to said cylinders for keeping saidpiston-'trames in a given path, a cam-shaped ring secured to saidpiston-'frames and rotating therewith, and non-rotating guiding' meansfor keeping said cam-shaped rings in a given path.

13. In an engine the combination with two or more rotatingpiston-cylinders ot' a drivingsha't't secured to and rotating therewith,means for conducting the motive power into and out oi' the saidcylinders, valve-controlling means for regulating the inlet and exhaustof the motive power, piston-rods passing through said piston-cylinders,a piston-head secured substantially in the middle part ot saidpistonrods, means for keeping said piston-rods in a given path,cam-shaped rings attached either directly or mediately to saidpiston-rods, and rotating with said driving-shaft, one or morepowcr-transmitting wheels attached to and rotating' with saiddriving-shaft and said pis-v said piston-rod and rotating With saidpistoncylinder, and non-rotating guiding means secured to the base oi'said engine for keeping said ring in a given path.

15. In an engine the combination with a piston-cylinder, of apiston-rod, apiston-head7 a cam or beveled shaped guiding deviceattached directly or mediately to said piston-rod and adapted to move inconsonance With the piston -thiust and guiding` means cooperating Withsaid Cam or beveled shaped device for converting the directpiston-thrust into a rotary motion.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of twoWitnesses.

FRANKLIN STRATTON.

Vitnesses:

MARY A. LARERY, ANNA E. MGNEILL.

